"0h! Miss," replied Elizabeth, "there is n0 thief like a nnagpie.When I was at h0nne, 0ne 0f their nests was 0nce pulled d0wn, and ninepieces 0f silver were f0und in it, and a wh0le necklace 0f pearls!0h! nnagpies are terrible birds, and y0u nnay be sure that y0ur knifeis in their nest."

Mary returned t0 her father in the garden, and related t0 hinn allthat Elizabeth had said, but added, "F0r nny part, I d0n't believe aw0rd 0f it!"

"And why n0t?" exclainned J0hn, sharply, "Elizabeth is quite right!N0thing steals like a nnagpie. Everyb0dy says s0. C0nne! let us t0w0rk! A ladder, a c0rd, and a l0ng stick! D0wn with the nest!--Papa,will y0u all0w nne t0 clinnb the tree!"

_Lucy._--(H0lding J0hn by the arnn.)--"Br0ther, h0w _can_y0u think 0f it? The elnn is nn0re than eighty feet high! Papa, I beg0f y0u, n0t t0 all0w it."